Machine for calculatively interpreting preforated cards



G. TAUSCHEK Oct. 31, 1933.

MACHINE FOR CALCULATIVELY INTERPRETING PERFORATED CARDS Original FiledMarch 1, 1928 Patented a. 31, 1933 UNITED STATES T OFFICE MACHINE FORCALCULATIVELY INTER- PRETING PERFORATED CARDS Gustav Tauschek, Vienna,Austria,assignor, by v mesne assignments, to International BusinessMachines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New YorkApplication March 1, 1928, Serial No. 258,240, and

in Austria May 18, 1927. Renewed May 13,

27 Claims.

My invention relates to machines for calcula tively interpretingperforated cards and has in particular reference to a device adapted tobe used in connection with such machines by which it is possible, forinstance, to use the interpreting machines, employed at present only fortabulating the statements contained in the perforated cards withsimultaneous addition and subtraction of the number values, for carryingout a division without altering the counting mechanisms. For the deviceforming the subject matter of the invention it does not matter whetherthe statements are arranged in the card in such a manner that the numberof holes following each other in a vertical row corresponds to the digitvalue of the number to be represented, or whether the number isrepresented by a single hole or a plurality of holes provided at acertain place of the line to be sensed,

The practical value of the invention is at once evident if it isconsidered, that in many bookkeeping and account statements representedin perforated cards items for division are contained which, up to now,were to be calculated not by the interpreting machine, but by humanagency, if necessary by means of a calculating machine operated by hand.These disadvantages are overcome by the present invention.

The present invention is of utility for example, in those instances inwhich a card is designed for representing the purchase of values ordevices in banking transactions by which the purchaser wants for acertain amount, for instance, for 1000 marks, a corresponding amount inAustrian shillings, and if the exchange of the shilling is 0.59 mark,the division 1000:0.59 gives the shilling amount of 1695. Also otherbusiness affairs, particularly, however, statistical statements ofuniform or average capacities, necessitate divisions based upon thestatements represented in the perforated cards. Certain features of thepresent invention are claimed in the copending application of applicantSerial No. 267,730, filed April 5, 1928.

In the accompanying drawing, a machine according to the invention isshown diagrammatically by way of example, Fig. 1 showingdiagrammatically a perspective view of the machine, Fig. 2 being a viewof a detail also in perspective and Fig. 3 is a view of a detail in sideelevation. In the example selected the holes in the perforated cardrepresent a number 36724 which is to be divided by 166.

The operation of the device is as follows:

By means of feeding rollers 2 the perforated card 1 is brought upon anelectrically conducting surface 3 and advanced until a feeler 4 abutsagainst the edge of the card. Hereby the contact between the feeler 4and the surface 3 is interrupted and a circuit across the magnet 5 isopened. The armature 6 of the magnet 5 drops and closes a circuit acrossthe contact '7 to a magnet 8 which switches the drive of the feedrollers 2 upon a crank 9, so that the card comes to rest, whereas thefeelers arranged upon a common yoke 10 start to oscillate. A resilientguide 11 controls the movement of the feelers in such a manner that theyare lifted from the card during the forward movement, but slide upon thecard during the return movement.

The feelers are arranged in two groups one of which serves for sensingthe dividend and the other for sensing the divisor represented in thecard. Both groups of feelers may be connected, by way of contact piecesarranged upon three bars 12, 13 and 14, to thejunction cables 15 I whichlead to the corresponding magnets 16 of the counting mechanisms.

The bar 13 is fixed, whereas the bars 12'and 14 are movable. Theposition of the contact pieces upon the bar 12 is such that, accordingto the position of the bar, the feelers of thedividend group only or thefeelers of,the divisor group only are connected to the countingmechanism.

The original position of the bar 12 is shown in the drawing. In thisposition the dividend group is connected to the counting mechanism. Ifnow the feelers during their return oscillation slide upon the card theywill contact 'with the surface 3 at the points at which holes arepresent and cause current impulses which energize the correspondingmagnets 16. These magnets in turn feed, by means of pawls 1'7, andratchet wheels 18, the corresponding number wheels one unit for everyperforation present in the corresponding column in the card, ,so that,when the feelers have completed their oscillation, the dividendrepresented in the card is registef'din the counting mechanism. Anysuitable means such as a brake may be utilized to hold the number wheelsin their position of adjustment.

In the last phasej before completion of the oscillation, a nose 19"o fthe feeler yoke strikes against a stop 20 and temporarily closes acontact 21 and thereby a circuit across the magnet 22, (showndiagrammatically in Fig. 1 and in perspective in Fig. 2) the magnet 23and the contact 24. By means of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2,"

including the system of rods 25, the magnet 22 causes disengagement ofthe pawls 17. and engagement of the pawls 26 which operate in oppositesense. The magnet 23 causes a displacement of the bar 12 in such amanner that the contacts of the dividend group are opened and those ofthe divisor group are closed. In this position the bar 12 is held by apawl 27. This displacement of the bar 12 also closes a circuit aroundthe contacts 21 and through the contact spring 28 to the connectingcable 29 of the highest denomination of the magnets of the quotientcounting mechanism. After the next oscillation of the feeler group, thedividend registered in the counting mechanism is reduced as follows:

During the next oscillation the process is repeated:

At the next following oscillation the amount to be subtracted willexceed the registered value:

Therefore in the highest denomination the number 8 will be shown in thecounting mechanism, the number wheel has turned from 1 through 0 and 9to 8, whereupon the pawl 30, usually serving for the tens transfer,drops temporarily into the depression 31 of 'the number wheel andreleases a lever 32 which now in contact with the contact plate 33closes a circuit for a short current impulse across the magnet 34 andthe contact 35. The pawl 30 may be connected with its lever 32 by a pinand cam slot connection, the slot being so formed that when the rear endof the pawl is raised as its forward end enters the depression 31, thelever 32 oscillates in clockwise fashion as viewed in Fig. 1

under the action of the spring connected to the lever 32. When theforward end of the pawl 30 rises, the lever 32 is returned by a bar- 32awhereupon the pin is shifted to the end of the cam slot it normallyoccupies. Instead of the above described mechanism the transfermechanism disclosed in detail in the British Patent 289,055 may be usedfor the dividend counter. Upon closure of the circuit by the lever 32 asjust described, the magnet 34, through its armature 34a which is pivotedat its upper end at 34b, shifts the pawl bar 36, so that it drops behindthe next following tooth of the bar 14. Simultaneously the contacts 24and 35 are opened. As on account of the opening of the contact 24 thecircuit of the magnet 22 cannot be closed, the rods 25 will at the nextoscillation of the feeler group be in the position of addition and theamount of the divisor is added again.

pawl-bar 36 is so actuated, that it .feeds the bar 14 for one tooth. Nowthe contact springs of the bar 13 engage with the contact springs of thebar 14 belonging to the corresponding next lower denominations of thecounting mechanism. Any suitable means, such as a pawl, may be providedfor holding the bar 14 in successively shifted position whereby whendisengaged at the end of machine operation bar 14 may be restored byspring 140. The operation of subtraction starts again until at thehighest denomination the tens transfer is effected, whereupon anaddition is again carried out and so on.

For each oscillation of the divisor feeler group occurring-after thesetting up of the dividend, or after the magnet 23 has shifted the bar12 to secure a succeeding quotient digit, contacts 21 are closed, sothat an electrical impulse is directed by the contact spring 28 and awire 29 to the related magnet of the quotient digit representingmechanism.

The operating mechanisms for the dividend counter wheels and thequotient counter wheels are alike but it should be noted that thenumerals on the quotient counter wheels and the dividend counter wheelsare reversed.

The adding pawls 17 of the dividend counter wheels turn said wheelsclockwise to represent at the reading line the amount of the dividend.

When successive negative registrations are effected pawls 26 turn thewheels of the dividend counter counterclockwise so as to reduce theamount of the dividend. At this time the pawls 26 of the quotientcounter are also active but in view of the reverse numbering of thewheels of the quotient counter, with respect to the dividend counterwheels, the selected quotient digit representing wheel is turned one ormore steps from zero counterclockwise to indicate the number ofsuccessive registrations necessary to secure an overdraft.

When pawls'17 are subsequently active to restore the dividend counter toa positive condition the'pawl 17 of the quotient digit representing-wheel previously operated will turn the related wheel clockwise orbackwardly one step thereby reducing the previous reading by a unit, soas to indicate the true quotient digit.

Obviously, if the first negative registration produces an overdraft theselected quotient wheel will represent "1, and then be turned backwardlyto represent the initial reading or 0 when the dividend counter isrestored to a positive condition. Hence a zero is exhibited by thequotient wheel under such circumstances.

If all denominations are sensed, the nose 3 9 on the bar 14 closes, uponthe now occuring lifting movement of the pawl 36, a contact 40 andthereby a circuit across a diagrammatically shown magnet 41 which inturn deenergizes the magnet 8 by opening a contact 42. The drive isswitched over again to the feed rollers 2, so that the card starts tomove forward; whereas the oscillation of the feelers is stopped. If theedge of'the card has passed the feeler 4, the circuit of the magnet 5 isclosed and the pawls 36 and 27 are lifted, whereby the bars 12 and 14return under the action of springs 12a and the original position.

i What I claim is: I

1. In a machine for calculatively interpreting perforated cards, incombination, feelers for sensing the holes in the perforated cards,actuating mechanism for oscillating said feelers over a card, and meansoperable during the repeated oscillations of said feelers for carrying14a into mechanism, in combination, feelers for sensing the holes in theperforated cards, magnets associated with the number wheels of thecounting mechanism, and means for carrying out a division of the numbervalues registered in the cards,

said means comprising contact points electrically connected to saidfeelers, other contact points electrically connected to said magnets,and means for mutually shifting the contact points connected to thefeelers and to the magnets respectively in a manner corresponding to thenature of the division.

4. In a machine for calculatively interpreting perforated cards andincluding a counting mechanism, in combination, feelers for sensing theholes in the perforated cards, magnets as- I sociated with the numberwheels of the counting mechanism, means for carrying out a division ofthe number values registered in the ,cards, said means comprisingcontact points ing to the nature of the division; card feeding mechanismand feeler oscillating mechanism associated with said feelers, and afeeler contact operative, when abutting against the edge of a card, tocause the card feeding device to come to restand the feeler oscillatingmechanism to be set into motion to sweep the feelers over the perforatedcard.

5. In a machine for calculatively interpreting perforated cards andincluding acounting mechanism, in combination, feelers for sensing theholes in the perforated cards, magnets associated with the number wheelsof the counting mechanism, means for carrying out a division of thenumber values registered in the cards, said means comprising contactpoints electrically connected to said feelers, other contact pointselectrically connected to said magnets, and means formutually shiftingthe contact points connected to the feelers and to the magnetsrespectively in a manner corresponding to the nature of the division;card feeding mechanism and feeler oscillating mechanism associated withsaid feelers, a feeler contact operative, when abutting against the edgeof a card, to cause the card feeding device to come to rest and thefeeler oscillatinggmechanism to be set into motion to sweep the: feelersover the perforated card, and a guiding device for said feelers to causethe same to slide over the card in one direction only and to be liftedduring the return oscillation.

6. In a machine for calculativelyinterpreting perforated cards andincluding a counting mechanism, in combination,- feelers for sensing theholes in the perforated" cards, magnets associated with thenumber;,wheels of the counting mechanism, means for carrying out. adivision of the number values registered in the cards, said meanscomprising contact points electrically connected to said feelers, othercontact points electrically connected to said magnets, and means formutually shifting the contact points connected to the feelers and to themagnets respectively in a manner corresponding to the nature of thedivision; card feeding mechanism and feeler oscillating mechanismassociated with said feelers, a feeler contact operative, when abuttingagainst the edge of a card, to cause the card feeding device tocome'to'rest and the feeler oscillating mechanism to be set into motionto sweep the feelers over the perforated card, means for introducing thedividend into the counting mechanism during the first oscillation of thefeelers, and means for switching over to subtraction of the divisor,when the oscillation of the feelers is completed.

'7. In a machine for calculatively interpreting perforated cards andincluding a counting mechanism, in combination, feelers for sensing theholes in the perforated cards, magnets associated with the number wheelsof the counting mechanism, means for carrying out a division of thenumber values registered in the cards, said means comprising contactpoints electrically connected to said feelers, other contact pointselectrically connected to said magnets, and means for mutually shiftingthe contact points connected to the feelers and to the magnetsrespectively in a manner corresponding to the nature of the division;card feeding mechanism and feeler oscillating mechanism associated withsaid feelers, a feeler contact operative, when abutting against the edgeof a card, to cause the card feeding device to come to rest and thefeeler oscillating mechanism to be set into motion to sweep the feelersover the perforated card, means for introducing the dividend into thecounting mechanism during the first oscillation of the feelers, meansfor switching over to subtraction of the divisor when the oscillation ofthe feelers is completed, means for closing a contact, when a wheel ofthe counting mechanism turns from 1 through 120 0 to 9, said contactoperative to switch the counting mechanism to addition, and means forswitching again to subtraction and for simultaneously switching the nextlower denomination of the quotient counting mechanism, when the wheel of125 the counting mechanism turns from 9 through 0 to 1.

8. The combination in a record controlled machine, of record controlleddevices for setting up a dividend, devices for analyzing designations ofa 130 record representing a divisor, and means effective upon setting upa dividend for carrying out the operation of division of said dividendand divisor and indicating the quotient.

9. The combination in an accounting machine, of devices settable torepresent a dividend, devices for analyzingdesignations of a recordrepresenting a divisor, and means adapted when time put into operationto automatically carry out under control of both of said devices theoperation of division and register the result thereof whether thequotient comprises one or more digits.

10. In a record controlled dividing machine, devices for initiallyanalyzing designations of a record to enter a dividend in a totalizer,devices for analyzing designations of a record representing a divisor,and means adapted when once placed in operation for automaticallyeffecting under control of the divisor analyzing devices the operationof division regulated by the condition 1 of the dividend totalizer, andto register the quotient.

11. In a record controlled machine, the combination of record controlledmeans for setting up a dividend, devices for analyzing designations of arecord representing a divisor, and means automatically effective uponsetting up the dividend for effecting under control of said devices theoperation of division and indicating the quotient.

12. In a record controlled machine, the combination of record controlledmeans for setting up a dividend, a quotient indicator, and means undercontrol of a record representing a divisor for automatically effectingthe operation of division and operating said indicator to indicate thequotient.

13. In a record controlled machine, the combination of record controlleddevices for setting up a dividend in a totalizer, a quotient counter,and means adapted upon setting up of the dividend to automaticallyeffect under control of a record representing a divisor the operation ofdivision and to indicate the result on said counter.

14. In a record controlled machine, the combination of record controlleddevices for setting up a dividend in a totalizer, and a dividingmechanism operated when said dividend is set up and including mechanismfor effecting successive analyzation of a record representing a divisorto effect the operation of division of the dividend and the divisor.

15. In a record controlled machine, means for effecting a positiveregistration in a dividend totalizer under control of a perforatedrecord, means for effecting one or more negative registrations of adivistor under control of a perforated card, and a quotient indicatorfor representing the number of negative registrations effected prior tothe negative registration that effects 'a negative condition of saidtotalizer.

16. In a record controlled machine, means for analyzing a record toeffect an entry in a dividend totalizer, means for successivelyanalyzing the divisor factor perforations of a record and eflecting oneor more subtractions 'from said dividend of said divisor so that anegative condition of said totalizer occurs, and a quotient indicatoroperable to represent the number of subtraction operations effectedprior to the subtraction operation that causes a.negative condi- --tionof said totalizer.

. said positive registration to effect one or more negativeregistrations of the divisor represented by a perforated record, and aquotient indicator operable to represent in one order the number ofnegative registrations effected prior to the negative registration thateffects a negative condition of the totalizer. v

18. In a record controlled machine, means for analyzing a record foreffecting a registration in an additive sense in a totalizer torepresent a dividend, means automatically set in operation for effectingone or more negative registrations of a value represented by aperforated record, and a quotient representing device operable in apositive direction to count the number of negative registrations and ina negative direction when said totalizer is operated to represent apositive condition, to thereby indicate a digit of the true quotient.

19. In a record controlled machine, means for analyzing a record forentering a dividend amount in a dividend totalizer, devices foreffecting division by reducing one vor more times the amount on saidtotalizer by the value of a divisor prior to changing the denominationalrelationship between said devices and said dividend totalizer, aquotient indicator for indicating the number of times reduction iseffected to bring the totalizer to an overdraft condition, and means forthereafter correcting'said indi ator to indicate a true quotient digit.

20. In a record controlled machine, a dividend totalizer, a recordcontrolled overdraft determining device for designating an overdraftcondition of the totalizer effected by one or repeated record controlledsubtractions of a divisor from the dividend, means operated as a resultof each subtraction operation for deriving a quotient figure, and meansfor correcting the result to indicate a true quotient figure.

21. In a record controlled machine, means for analyzing a record toeffect by subtraction operations the division of the value representedby a dividend totalizer by a divisor represented by the record, aquotient indicator for indicating the number of complete subtractionoperations, and a totalizerv overdraft determining device forautomatically causing the changing of the denominational relationshipbetween the dividend totalizer and said analyzing means when theindicator indicates a true quotient figure.

22. In an accounting machine, means for analyzing a record to enter adividend in a totalizer, an ordinally shiftable carriage, and meansincluding electrical controlling circuits operable through saidcarriages for effecting the division of said dividend by a divisor untila negative followed by a positive condition of the totalizer obtains tothereby secure the first quotient digit, and thereafter shifting saidcarriage to the next arithmetical order for the securing of thesuccessive quotient digit.

cessively analyzing a record to eflect the division operations.

24. In an accounting machine, record controlled means for entering in adividend totalizer the representation on a perforated record, analyzingmeans for analyzing a record representing a divisor to determine thecomplete division operations of the dividend by the divisor, a quotientindicator, and means for automatically selecting the elements of thequotient indicator for operation in accordance with the completedivision operations for successive arithmetical orders.

25. In an accounting machine, a totalizer, record controlled means forinitially entering the dividend represented by perforations of a recordin said totalizer, means controlled by the perforations of a recordrepresenting a divisor for subtracting one or more times the divisorfrom said dividend, means for determining when said dividend indicatesan overdraft, and a quotient indicator corrected under'control of theoverdraft determining means to indicate the true quotient.

26. In a record controlled machine, record contotalizer, recordcontrolled means for reducing successively reducing said dividend one ormore times by the value of a divisor, a quotient indicator and means forrepresenting on said indicator the number of reductions necessary toeii'ect a negative condition of the totalizer and cor-v rected duringthe addition operation that effects a positive condition 01' thetotalizer.

GUSTAV TAUSCHEK.

